Neurodivergent creatives lead the way in 'Safe sound check' campaign for sensory inclusion

A new accessibility initiative launched this October is challenging how Filipinos think about sound. The “Safe sound check” campaign, created by Project Inclusion Network (PIN) and Jayme HQ, was unveiled in time for World Sensory Month, marking a milestone in co-creation with neurodivergent individuals.

Unlike typical advocacy efforts, the project’s centrepiece - a digital tool hosted on safesoundcheck.com - was designed and tested with the participation of neurodivergent creatives themselves. Members of The Misfits Camp, a collective led by Merlee Jayme, contributed to the research, user experience, and real-world calibration of what “safe” actually sounds like.

The result is a platform that measures ambient noise and, when sound levels rise above safe thresholds, can play a soft audio reminder asking others to lower the volume. The site also includes educational resources about autism and sensory sensitivity, a feature meant to build empathy through knowledge.

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Sound designer Tats Paman explained the team’s approach to setting inclusive parameters: “The right sound level is only 65 to 75 decibels. That range is non-triggering for people with autism. This is not telling everyone to be super quiet, just the right level that is honestly good for all of us.”

For audiologist Diego Rozul, the campaign brings science into focus: “When we listen to noise in a contained area -like a bus - we can filter what we want to focus on. But for people with autism, the noises are loud, everything all at once. That’s why it overwhelms and triggers.”

The project’s urgency stems from a tragic incident that unfolded earlier this year. “Last July, a person with autism was triggered by the loud audio from another passenger’s cellphone while riding a bus. According to reports, he reacted by biting the passenger, and the people on the bus attacked and beat him up. It’s a painful reminder that many Filipinos are unaware of neurodiversity, and how loud sounds can be overwhelming - even physically painful - for people on the spectrum,” said Grant Javier, PIN executive director.

He added that such experiences have real-world consequences for inclusion and employment: “Commuting is often the first step for neurodivergent individuals to access employment. If we don’t make these spaces safe for them, we are not helping. I’ve travelled around the world, and people have an inherent respect for the sounds they make in public. We need that same awareness here.”

Among the contributors was Juan Alfonzo “Japonz” Dacumos, a summa cum laude psychology graduate from De La Salle University who is openly autistic.

He noted that sensory overload can make something as routine as commuting feel daunting: “Commuting is very difficult when you have autism because every part of the journey exposes you to potentially dangerous sound levels. I always bring headphones with me, but it would help a lot if people were more conscious of how sounds affect us.”

The campaign’s impact has already reached policymaking circles. The Philippine House of Representatives has filed a bill, with a Senate version expected soon, to declare October as Safe Sound Month, recognising sensory accessibility as a public health issue. Discussions with local governments, airlines, and fast-food chains are also underway to integrate Safe Sound Zones into public and commercial spaces.

Merlee Jayme, of The Misfits Camp and Jayme HQ, pointed out that sound sensitivity is often an “invisible disability” in Filipino society: “Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodiverse conditions with sound sensitivity are invisible disabilities. You don’t know who has them on a bus, in a classroom, or in a restaurant. We Filipinos aren’t always aware of the sound levels we create - from talking loudly to playing TikTok videos without earphones. When these exceed safe levels, they overwhelm and trigger people with these diagnoses. Safe sound check gives everyone a simple way to monitor sound and help keep spaces safe for others.”

“For once, it’s not us adjusting to society - it’s society adjusting to our needs. That makes me genuinely happy. This project shows that inclusion is finally being acted on,” added Red Ligot, founding member of the Philippine Neurodivergent Self Advocates (PHINSA).

The initiative is also supported by Soundesign Manila, The Huddleroom, and This Side Up Manila.

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